Our names are Maryam Malekpour and Parastoo Azizi, we are the family members of two Canadian residents who require your urgent attention.

Saeed Malekpour, a web developer, is being held captive in Tehran’s Evin Prison for seven years now. In court the authorities did not present any evidence to prove the outlandish charges against him, except for forced confessions which were extracted from him under torture. Saeed has been subjected to brutal physical torture and was forced to live in the shadow of death from 2008 until 2014 (when Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commuted his death sentence to life in prison). There is no sign that the authorities are planning to release him any time soon, even though there is no logical reason why he continues to be in prison.

Mostafa Azizi, a writer and filmmaker, is also being held captive in Evin Prison. Mostafa is an active member of his community in Toronto and even opened and managed a hub of culture called “Farhang Khane” in North York. Iranian authorities have sentenced him to eight years in prison for his writings and nonviolent social media activities. He has spent time in solitary confinement and been subjected to interrogations which lasted at least one month. Mostafa is being punished for exercising his right to freedom of speech and expression.

What has happened to Saeed and Mostafa is unfair, they should be released from prison immediately and unconditionally. Every minute they remain behind bars is torture for us; we feel helpless and imprisoned ourselves. We hope you will stand with us and defend the fundamental human rights of our family members, in order to help bring them back home to Canada where they can live a peaceful and safe life.